Edinburgh Napier University

  Funding: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland

Duration: April 2009 – December 2010

Research Team: Prof Ron McQuaid, Dr Ariel Bergmann, Dr Jesus Canduela, Vanesa Fuertes, Dr Valerie Egdell and Anne Green of the Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick

This study considered strategies that link the promotion of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the employment of economically inactive groups in 10 relevant countries Australia; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; Germany; the Netherlands; New Zealand; Slovenia; Spain; USA plus Great Britain.  The aim was to ascertain the transferability of some strategies to the Northern Ireland (NI) policy and labour market context.  Descriptions of  good practice were developed, concerning in securing jobs growth in areas, sectors and occupations that provide accessible entry-level positions for economically inactive groups.  It identified some of the ‘critical success factors’ common to effective strategies, particularly drawing out lessons for future policy.  In this study ‘Investment’ includes FDI and private investment that expands the ‘export’ capacity of the NI economy and ‘economically inactive’ people are those who are excluded or seriously at risk of exclusion from the labour market.

http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-stats-index/deti-stats-index-3/job_creation_for_economically_inactive.htm